Take 2, Away Rotations -- A [long] double whammy

I accidentally posted this early while I was starting to write it a couple of weeks ago. (hit publish instead of save!)

 NOW it's had more added and it's official....

July was not forgotten...

I just waited until August to combine the two in order to avoid posting on this public blog 

that my heart has been away for the past 

t.w.o. m.o.n.t.h.s. (68 days to be exact)

Yep, it was awful.  

R was away doing externships for school while I was here bringing home the bacon. 

I don't think we realized how difficult it would be to be away from each other until it happened. 

It might not seem like a big deal but it was a humbling experience that I know has made me even more grateful to have him.

Two weeks into it was the Sims annual beach time in PCB.

I wished so badly that R would be there but in my mind there was no way.

He was so sad he wouldn't be there because he looks forward to it every year.

& as far as I knew, he had to be at the hospital that weekend

..and when I called him on my drive to PCB,

he had "just gotten home and was about to cook the chicken he thawed."

I arrived at PCB and when I got upstairs P said 'well, since we don't know where everybody's sleeping just put your stuff in that room' ....I walk in there to put down my stuff down and from the darkness I hear "heeyyyyyyyeyyeyey!!!!!" coming from my HUSBAND!

I was in shock. & cried.

I was so happy that trickster R surprised the heck out of me.

He said he couldn't hold in his excitement when I walked in there.

A couple of weeks later I got to surprise R! Haha!

The evening before, I was at publix while on the phone with R.

 I said I had to pick up ice-cream for my (made up) dinner plans with a family in the ward.

I went all out - even 20 minutes before I arrived to surprise him I texted him saying I had a headache and that I was right about my guess that we'd be having lasagna.

R threw a wrench in my plan when at 10pm the night before he mentioned his dinner plans at his cousin J's house. I got up with cousin J's wife, R and she helped a cousin out big time.

The new plan was for me to show up there (which would be even more surprising!)

and she made sure J was outside and she was busy when I knocked on the door so she could ask R to get the door.

He was in shock. We had a spontaneous little getaway the next day; it was perfect.

Two and a half weeks later we saw each other again.

R's Granny G passed away, peacefully.

It was sad but it's a comfort to know where she is.

The hardest things were seeing my MIL cry knowing that breaks R's heart.

& when MIL whispered in my ear "she loved you so much and was so happy R got you"

I realized how much death brings family/friends together and gives people an opportunity to serve others.

There were so many people who brought food or helped with the lunch after the funeral, etc. It was so nice.

We ended up seeing each other a lot more than we thought we would

(we thought we'd see each other zero)

but it's just not the same as being HOME together. 

The hardest thing about seeing each other was knowing we had to say goodbye AGAIN.

Talking on the phone with about a week left, R said, "I cannot wait for Friday. It's going to be like heaven." It was the best feeling to see him and know we didn't have to say goodbye again.

The day R finished his rotation, I rode down to Ma & Dad's house with Gma&Gpa H.

then rode back home with R after we spent a few days with the family :)

The weekend was amazing

(although we could have done without the ticket for turning right on red! nothing some farm fresh boiled peanuts couldn't cure.) 

Other July/August events worth noting: KA came to visit me!!! Gma & Gpa H's 60th wedding anniversary!!!, the Jones' came through town to share their art project at a local art gallery (www.sunrisegoal.org), and R's Gold Humanism Honor Society pinning ceremony.

Thoughts while being alone: 

• I am so grateful it wasn't longer. Military spouses are strong!!!
• Even though we haven't even been married a year yet, it's easy to get into a routine. I was reminded of what a blessing it is to come home to him every day and to get to serve each other throughout the week. 
• It is really easy to come home and eat cereal for dinner when there is no one else to cook for. This is likely what made me feel sick sometimes. 
• You can really psych yourself out when you're home alone. When you're in the shower and can't remember if you locked the door and then start thinking you might be hearing something in your living room. Yep. 
• I need to be more social.
• Cell phone service in our apartment it TERRIBLE. This made our phone calls very difficult sometimes. 
• I am sooo sooo glad I never endured a relationship heartbreak. You know, where you are completely in love with the person and then you break up.....because for at least the first week of R being gone, I cried every night just because I wished he was there...but I knew he was coming back..so it wasn't a permanent change...I imagine a heart break would feel terrible. 
• I get a whole lot of cleaning/organizing accomplished when I'm home alone.
• What huge sacrifices R is making for us and our future. Being away from home and working LONG hours. It's the worst to get "home" and not even have time to unwind before having to shower and get in bed to do it all over again. 
• I appreciate him so much. 
• We should never be apart that long again. ever. 

Thoughts on away rotations for medical student spouse: 

• they open doors to potential residency programs
• it gives a tiny little taste of what to expect during residency since they get to work directly with them
• it helps with getting letters of recommendation which they will need when applying to residency!!! [p.s. save money because all the applications through ERAS can get pricey]
• think about away rotations and moving costs when you decide how much loan money to accept for the semester!
• they will not get much sleep...and they miss you too...so don't be hard on them when the only time you talk some days is on their drive home. 
• they will be back. Don't forget the away rotations are temporary. 

Before R left, he got a blessing from our home teacher.

It was undoubtedly inspired and exactly what each of us needed to hear. It gave us strength and reassurance. I know it strengthened my testimony and helped me feel our Savior's love.

 A sweet promise that 'angels would take care of his angel while he was away' came in the form of occasions to see family, friends visiting, and friends needing a place to stay while coming through town.

I have never has so many plans packed into two months as these two and what a blessing that was from Heavenly Father.

I am so grateful for the priesthood and the worthy men who exercise it to bless others.

Life lesson of July/August: our eternal marriage brings and will continue to bring so many "supernal joys of life." 

Things we're looking forward to in September: being together! not traveling (our gas expenses have been out of control). R finally gets to enjoy the professional massage he got for his bday!